HBO To Develop Comedy Based On Book ‘Lookaway, Lookaway’ With Sue Naegle & David Miner Producing

EXCLUSIVE:HBO has optioned the novel Lookaway, Lookaway by Wilton Barnhardt for a comedy series, which will be executive produced by former HBO entertainment president-turned-producer Sue Naegle and top comedy producer, 3 Arts’ David Miner (30 Rock, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Parks & Recreation). The project, set in Charlotte, North Carolina’s high society, is described as a scathing comic window into the dysfunction of the American family, as Old South traditions clash with 21st Century realities of sex, race, religion and class. Barnhardt will co-executive produce. Search is underway for a writer to pen the project, with Barnhardt involved at the story stage. Naegle, who left HBO in September, also serves as an executive producer on Robert Kirkman’s drama Outcast for HBO sibling Cinemax and Fox International Channels. The Lookaway, Lookaway novel is repped by RWSG.

5 Comments

HBO’s comedies have become too narrow and mine the same coterie of limited characters and similar milieus. I wish they’d go more outrageous. Showtime too.

frankie • on Jan 30, 2014 8:07 am

Obviously HBO has never been to Charlotte, NC… “High Society”. Now that’s comedy!

Shakira • on Jan 30, 2014 8:07 am

Sue has such great taste. Wow, this book is hilarious. Glad she and David nabbed it. It will be nice to see the real version of the culture that still exists in the South while embracing the uniqueness of that world in a comedic way. The book is great. Good on them!